TRAVELLERS left behind a sickening pile of rubbish when they were evicted from an illegal camp in Rhydymwyn.

More than six caravans, lorries and an assortment of vehicles had parked on a public road on the Antelope Business Park.

Village community councillor Diane Johnson criticised Flintshire County Council for delaying the clean up.

'The filth the travellers left behind, including dirty nappies and rotting waste, is nauseating,' she said.

'Several people, including myself, immediately contacted the council. But a week later, nothing has been done.

'This is an appalling situation as the rubbish is a health hazard. Within yards there's a nature reserve often visited by school parties.

'I'm concerned a child could come into contact with some of this infectious material and fall ill.'

A spokesman for Whitley's Estates, which own the units, said: 'We moved some of the rubbish on the road so that our grass cutting machinery could get through.

'We have contacted the council but their response has been extremely slow - after all the rubbish is dumped on a public road.'

Flintshire's environmental services officer Harvey Mitchell said on Wednesday: 'The delay in clearing away the rubbish was to make sure the travellers had gone. The last thing we want is any confrontation.'